Bangles CD
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The Bangles Jangle
Their jangling guitars and vocal harmonies remind me of the Byrds, and the Bangles never fail to get me going. Hard rocking mixed with humor and style, their songs are an eclectic mix that emphasizes their outstanding talent. Walk Like an Egyptian is one of the weirdest and catchiest songs ever recorded, and the video truly captured the quirkiness of it. My favorite on this album, however, is the fantastic cover of Simon and Garfunkel's Hazy Shade of Winter. I wish they had recorded a 20-minute version of it, because when I listen to it, I don't want it to end.

Walk down memory lane (like an Egyptian)
The Bangles, one of the great girl gorups form the days of cassette grace us with greatest hits on CD. All of your favorites are here and ready to go for a Saturday night party.

Bang Bangles, Baby
In the decade that brought us The Go-Go's, Cyndi Lauper and Bananarama, The Bangles were a great group of women who tried to smash the girl-group stereotype by (like Beauty and the Beat) being a fully formed band that wrote their own songs and played their own music. The early EP (not on here and credited as The Bangs) found them on the fringes of the Paisley Underground, and having a distinct Byrds/Beatles infuence. By the first full-length, All Over the Place, these influences came into sharp pop-focus. Hoff's ex-boyfriend kiss-off "Hero Takes A Fall" was an almost hit, while the choice of Kimberly Rew's "Going Down To Liverpool" was well-apt to their hero's sounds.

Obviously, CBS smelled stardom, and smoother sounds on Different Light indicated more than a little corporation grooming. Prince had developed a crush on Susanna Hoffs and gave the band "Manic Monday," a pitch perfect pop song from an artist at his peak. It became the breakthrough, followed by the zany "Walk Like and Egyptian." While Hoffs and Vicki Peterson were writing songs for the album, it was their choice covers that got attention and chart positions. Jules Shears' "If She Knew What She Wants" is a standout track, as is the pick of Big Star's "September Gurls" (not here). The first of the big ballads appeared as well, with Michael Steele's "Following."

However, dispite songwriting contributions from Steele and Peterson and the fact that the harmonies of the Peterson sisters were a big part of The Bangles' sound, the spotlight was becoming more focused on Hoffs. The super-slick Everything reflected the pressure CBS put on the band. Number one ballad "Eternal Flame" was there, surrounded by hyper-synthed 80's production. Oddly enough, the star hit of this period, "Hazy Shade of Winter," poured fire into a Simon and Garfunkle song but was only issued on the Less Than Zero Soundtrack until this best of. Shortly after "Everything," the band broke up and Hoffs entered a less than successful solo career.

While this CD tends to bypass the more artistically inspired early songs for the slicker pop of the hits, The Bangles were still an ace band. Their choice in writers was impeccable and they had shared writer skills (8 of these songs are band member-written) that are often overlooked. The Bangles' Greatest Hits is a solid document of a great pop band, and just as worthy as A Go-Go's Collection would be.

The Bangles - Greatest Hits
They were among the girl groups that marked the 80's. I still enjoy their music to this day. Five stars!